Fitchburg female teacher accused of having sex with student, 14

FITCHBURG — A former teacher at North Central Essential Charter School has been charged with aggravated rape and enticing a child, accused of having sex with one of her students, a 14-year old boy.

Rachelle Gendron, 27, of 4 Sheridan St., was indicted by a grand jury on Friday on five counts of aggravated rape of a child, and one count of enticing a child under age 16. Appearing for her arraignment in Worcester Superior Court, her eyes red-rimmed, Ms. Gendron pleaded not guilty.

According to assistant district attorney Cheryl Riddle, Ms. Gendron was the health and sex education teacher at North Central Essential Charter School when she began a sexual relationship with one of her students.

"We have in our possession a number of text messages, as well of photos of Ms. Gendron in various states of undress, from the victim's cellphone, that support the allegations against her," Ms. Riddle said. The texts and images of Ms. Gendron were found on the teenager's cellphone, she said.

Ms. Gendron is no longer employed by the school, Ms. Riddle said. She is alleged to have sexual relations with the 14-year-old boy when she was 25 and 26 years old.

Defense lawyer Andrea Levy said Ms. Gendron lives at home with her parents and her sister and has never been charged with a crime. She graduated from high school in Fitchburg, then went to Wheaton College, where she graduated, summa cum laude, with a degree in English. Her mother was in the courtroom to hear the charges against her daughter, Ms. Levy said.

Ms. Gendron was granted $2,000 bail by Judge James R. Lemire, and ordered to have no contact with any children, nor take any job that would put her in direct contact with children. She must also follow the harassment order established by Fitchburg District Court and have no contact with the victim in the case.

"The North Central Charter Essential School's highest priority is the safety and well-being of our students and we are both shocked and concerned by the allegations against the former employee in question," according to an emailed statement from the school. "Upon first learning of those allegations, we took prompt and appropriate action consistent with the best interests of our students, which included swiftly terminating the individual and fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities investigating this matter. Until this matter is resolved, however, we cannot offer further comment."

Ms. Gendron is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 10 for a pretrial hearing.